What comes in your mind when I talk about Cricket? Or let me say cricket in India… Game? Sport? Nah… Religion is what we think cricket is in India, right? I know y’all will agree with me on that. But on the contrary women’s cricket is a blooming flower in India. After seeing the likes of Mithali Raj, girls now are inspired to consider cricket as a career and are increasingly enrolling themselves in academies, hoping to represent our country one day. So I here bring some academies which may prove as a stepping stone towards your goal.

1. Karnataka Institute of Cricket - Karnataka

KIOC - A one stop cricket academy for girls in Bangalore was inaugurated by Mohammed Azharuddin then captain, back in 1996. Since then the institute is working hard towards improving cricketing skills of the students. From bowling, batting, fielding to one on one training, KIOC provides it all. The academy has over 40 coaches to help players. KIOC is the only full time service provider in the region, which gives it an edge over other academies. Players’ from Indian Cricket team and Karnataka team players come to train the students from time to time, which gives the student much needed exposure. Students from all over the globe come to get trained in the institute. The institute provides world class facilities to its students, making it the best choice.

“Play for the love of game – there’s so much to learn.” says Irfan Sait, the director and the head coach who is available throughout the year to help the players.

Female Cricket, an exclusive academy only for girls, the first of its kind in Mumbai was started in 2017 after Women’s World Cup. It was when Vishal Yadav, the founder, got hundreds of message from all over India asking him about academies where girls can enroll themselves and learn cricket, that he realized it’s time now to give girls the much needed platform and perhaps the best way was to open a cricket academy for girls and exclusively for them. Gargi Banerji, former Indian National player enlightens the players through her excellent cricket coaching experience. The academy is located in the heart of Mumbai – Dadar’s Shivaji Park, which makes it easier for girls to commute as the location is well connected with Central, Harbor and Western line of Mumbai.

“It’s the best time to be a female sportsperson in the country. If cricket is actually your passion, go for it. We (Female Cricket) are here to support you.” says Vishal Yadav

With the vision of providing best cricket coaching to the players so that they can achieve their dreams, Aryan Cricket Academy was started back in 2016. Aryan Rathore, the founder, is a cricket enthusiast himself who plays for Delhi Cricket Team, was always passionate about providing a platform to players to showcase their talent. . The aim of the institute is to provide cricket program for females of all ages and abilities with basic and professional coaching. The academy provides bowling, batting, fielding, individual coaching and also help students out with cricketing equipment from gloves to bat. The academy uses modern coaching methods and technology to instill cricketing skills in the player

“Girls Cricket Academy was initiated with an objective of building a platform for young girls to showcase their talents, nurture their cricket dreams and make progress in their professional cricket career.” says Aryan Rathore

Twenty2yards cricket academy is located in Pune. The academy was started with the objective of providing beginners and professionals with world-class cricket coaching experience. The academy has over 9 trainers who focuses on training players with the help of modern techniques. Mr. Surendra Bhave, former Maharashtra Captain and ECB level – III coach is one of the mentor at the academy. The academy provides students with all amenities like washroom, private locker, changing room, sitting area, parking, drinking water and medical aid.

Mehsana Cricket academy is situated in Mehsana, a rural area in North Gujarat with the aim of providing cricket coaching to the ones passionate for the game. The academy provides training to girls, women, boys and specially challenged people. The aim of the academy is to empower women and young girls and to encourage them consider cricket as a career option. The academy provides free of cost training to women, specially challenged & economically backward people.

“Play sports as much as you can but play to inspire, not to aspire” said an authority member of Mehsana Academy.

Since its inception, GS Harry Cricket Academy, has focused on creating talents and enriching them by giving world class cricket coaching. Coaching is provided to both girls and boys by the academy in their facility at Whitefield, Delhi. The academy focuses on imparting skills in the students by adopting modern coaching techniques and use of state of art technologies. The academy makes the student capable of adapting new techniques so that they can meet the new and ever growing demands. A team of qualified coaches and cricket trainers are hired by the academy to guide the students. Along with batting, bowling, fielding, wicketkeeping the academy also trains the candidate to improve their leadership skills.

HCPA is one of its kind and perhaps was the first academy exclusively for girls in India. The academy which was inaugurated by Anurag Thakur in 2008, selects girls based on their performance in the trails conducted by them. Girls once selected are admitted in schools nearby so that equal attention can be given to education and cricket. The academy is headed by Mr. Pawan Sen, Level B coach. Training to girls is provided in Dharamsala Cricket Stadium. Sushma Verma, undoubtedly one of the best cricketer in Indian Cricket team is a product of HCPA. In fact, the stadium has a stand named after Sushma Verma so that more girls can draw inspiration from her and believe they can do it to.

Andhra Pradesh Cricket Women’s Academy is affiliated with Andhra Cricket Association and is located in Guntur. It was inaugurated by the best players India has ever witnessed, Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami. The Academy at the JKC college ground focuses on training girls and making them ready as a professional cricketer. The ground also holds a lot of domestic cricket matches. The authorities have worked hard to create state of art facilities at the academy, which is of benefit to the girls enrolling themselves in the academy.

Facilities – Modern gym, video analyst’s room, latest group equipment and much more

Coaching session/timing – N/A

Age Criteria – N/A

Hostel Facility – Provided

9. Kerala Cricket association - Kerala

When you think about sports in Kerala, cricket is definitely not the first thing that comes in your mind but it isn’t the last thing as well. Yes, Kerala has always been a football loving state but Kerala Cricket Association has managed to provide the few of Keralites who are interested in cricket a much needed cricketing platform. The KCA provides training to girls in zonal academies which are located in Kottayam, Idukki and Wayanad. It also runs senior college academy for girls in Aluva. KCA also helps them to get admission in good school, located in vicinity of Zonal Academies. Trainers in the academy have adopted modern coaching practices and techniques.

Facilities – State of art facilities, gym, cricket gears and much more.

Coaching Session/timing – N/A

Age criteria – Senior Category should be under 19

Junior Category under 16/ seeking admission to class IX or below

Hostel Facility – Provided

10. Vadodara Cricket Academy - Gujarat

Mr. Harendra Patel and Mr. Hemant M Patel, started Vadodara Cricket Academy back in 2014. As both of them are cricket enthusiast, the motive behind this joint venture was to discover talented young players who are passionate about the game.The academy got affiliated with Baroda Cricket Association in 2016. But it was in December 2017 after women's cricket world cup that they started coaching girls. The academy has a team of qualified trainers (5 male & 1 female) whose responsibilities are to inculcate discipline and cricketing skills in players. Indian national Cricket players keep visiting the academy from time to time, to guide the students. Also, this year 5 girls from VCA got selected for Baroda Cricket Association cricket camp.

"All the aspiring young women cricketers just focus on your dream and practice with utter dedication towards the sport. And also never think yourself less than men, be it in cricket or in any other sport" says Harendra Patel, president of VCA